The National Archaeological Museum is the most significant museum in Greece with an extensive collection of ancient and historical artefacts.

Collections and contents: Bronzes, Sculpture, Pottery and Minor Artefacts, Prehistoric Artefacts and Egyptian Art.

Additional activities: Short term exhibitions, lectures, educational programmes for elementary students, TOMBA project and museum shop.

Acropolis site, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3214172, 210 3236665, 210 9238724,

Fax: (+30) 210 9239023

At present it houses the ancient works of art of the Acropolis and is considered to be one of the most priceless archaeological museums in the world.

Collections and contents: The Caryatids, Archaic Horsemen, Parthenon Pediments and Metopes, The Parthenon Frieze, The Erechtheion Frieze, Athena Nike Temple Frieze, Athena Nike Temple Parapets, Sculptural offerings of the Archaic period, Pediments of Temples dated to the Archaic period, Sculptures of the "Severe" style, Clay figurines and vases from the sanctuary of the Nymphs.

Just finished and it has a history already, one of people not agreeing with it, it is built at the bottom of the Acropolis, right by the underground station and on what some consider to be a place of historical importance.

I look at it as an expression of the passion Greeks have for their country, it is beautifully done and it will become historical in its own way, not detract from the buildings it replaced.

There are many buildings under protection order left to rot because there is not enough help to renovate these properties or protect them, so creating a new and quite stunning building to preserve the antiquities found and retained in Greece is a wonderful idea.

148, Ermou Street, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3463552

The Archaeological Museum of Keramikos contains several precious artefacts from the Geometric and Archaic periods.

Collections and contents: Pottery and Marbles.

1, Tositsa Street, 10682, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 8217637, 210 8232950, Fax: (+30) 210 8225733

E-mail: protocol@ema.culture.gr

The Epigraphical Museum houses many invaluable ancient inscriptions from Attica and from other areas in Greece. It is on the first floor of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

Built in: Housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens (1866-1889), renovated and expanded 1953-1960.

Collections and contents: Marble Inscriptions (decrees, laws, construction plans, alters, etc)

Additional activities: Educational programmes for students concerning the history of the Greek alphabet.

The Agora, 10555, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3210185

The museum was built inside the Attalos Stoa, which was constucted in 150 BC. The museum's displays are primarily concerned with democracy in Athens, due to the fact that the Agora was the centre of Athens public life. The Stoa of Attalos was discovered during excavations that took place from 1859 to 1902.

This is smack in the middle of the area under the Acropolis, and I love taking the ΙΣΑΠ (Origional Metro) line to travel through this area, you see the ruins rising above you as you gaze out the window.

They have some old pictures and a great map to study at Thesseio Station that I have missed many a train whilst lost in trying to put the picture into where I have walked.

Collections and contents: Pottery, Sculptures, Clay Relics, Inscriptions, Bronzes, Amphorae, and an assortment of other small articles found during excavations.

22, Vasilissis Sophias Street, 10675, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 7211027, 210 7232178, Fax: (+30) 210 7231883

E-mail: protocol@bma.culture.gr

The Byzantine Museum contains artwork from the Byzantine and the Post-Byzantine Era (4th - 19th centuries).

Collections and contents: Icons, Carvings, Mosaics, Sculptures, Prints, Engravings, Lithographs, Manuscripts, Wall Paintings, Copies of Paintings and small objet d'art.

Additional activities: Special exhibitions, educational programmes for children of ages 10-15, museum library and museum shop.

This is a great place to include on your Graduation Europe Culture Holiday, they will have a good time searching out their assigned target and maybe recognise some things that are used today as being thousands of years old.

17, Kydathinaion Street, 10558, Plaka, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3229031, Fax: (+30) 210 3226979

E-mail: meltl@melt.culture.gr

The Museum of Greek Folk Art deals with the general exhibition and study of Folk Art throughout Greece. Its art collection dates back to 1650.

Collections and contents: Pottery, Weavings, Embroidery, Visual and Audio Archives, Shadow Theater, Costumes, Stone Carvings, Silver and Metal Works, Paintings.

This place is unbelievable, I still have to remember that these costumes are for adults and not children playing dress-up, I am sure there are some ideas that the fashion industry still use today.

Additional activities: Special exhibitions, educational programmes, Seminars and Conferences, Publications and Research.

1, Michalakopoulou Street & 50, Vasileos Constantinou Street, 11528, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 7235857, 210 7216560, 210 7235937-8

Fax: (+30) 210 7224689, 210 7224889

It is the most significant museum of Greek and European Art in Greece. A large amount of the 9500 pieces of art work are donations.

Collections and contents: Paintings, Engravings, Sculptures, Furniture and Miniatures.

This place often holds the exhibits from around the world, like the all Capitol Cities, but it has a great range that it exhibits, and they also add things like music, sometimes actors.

Additional activities: Museum library and restoration workshops.

Vassilissis Sophias Ave & 1, Herodotou Street, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 7228321-3

E-mail: info@cycladic-m.gr, www.cycladic-m.gr

4, Neophytou Douka Street, 10674, Athens Greece

The Stathatos House (new wing)

The aim of the museum is the promotion and study of Ancient Greek and Cycladic culture.

These places have always felt like a passion or a fans collection with the added personal touch, get them talking and they don’t stop.

Collections and contents: Cycladic Art: Marbles, Pottery, Sculptures and Metal Works. Ancient Greek Art: Statues, Bronzes, Pottery, Figurines, Sculptures, Metal and Glassware, Jewellery and Coins.

Additional activities: Short term exhibitions, educational programmes for students.

Vasilissis Sophias Ave. & 2, Rizari Street, 10675, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 7290543-4, 210 7215035, 210 7244464, Fax: (+30) 210 7245838

Its objective is to document the history of war and the Greek struggle for freedom throughout the ages.

Collections and contents: War Artefacts and Displays from the following eras: The Stone Age, The Early Bronze Age, Prehistoric Times, The Byzantine Era, The Period of Frankish Rule, The Era of the Greek War of Independence, The New Greek State Era, The Balkan War Period, The WWI Period and The WWII Period.

Not a fan of War, but you can go on some of the planes, walk up and in, it makes you realise that spending hours on a modern aircraft may not be great fun but in one of those, they must be dedicated.

Additional activities: Museum library.

1, Koubari Street & Vasilissis Sophias Ave., 10674, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3671000, Fax: (+30) 210 3671063

E-mail: benaki@benaki.gr, www.benaki.gr

The Benaki Museum has an extensive collection of historical artefacts from Prehistoric times, the Byzantine Era, the Post-Byzantine and Neo-Hellenic Era, as well as relics, objet d'art, fine art, Chinese art and Islamic art.

Collections and contents: Pottery, Figurines, Jewellery, Sculpture, Coins, Marbles, Icons, Ceramic Objects, Manuscripts, Bronze Articles, Wood Carvings, Ecclesiastical Objects, Weapons, Personal Items of Historical Figures, Paintings, Engravings, Dolls and Toys, Curtains.

This is a living museum, the staff are very dedicated and in love with their collection.

Additional activities: Special exhibitions, educational programmes for children, photographic archives, publications.

12, Eleftherios Venizelos Ave., 10671, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3643774, 210 3612190, 210 3612519, Fax: (+30) 210 3635953

E-mail: protocol@nm.culture.gr

The Numismatic Museum of Athens is one of the few museums of its kind globally. Its aim is to acquaint the public with the historical significance and the artistry of coins.

You want money, they have it and you really did not know the history of money till you have seen this place.

Collections and contents: Coins from Ancient Greek Times, The Roman Period, The Byzantine Era, Medieval Times, Modern Times, also Lead stamps, Hoards, Precious Stones, Medals, Weights, Literary work about numismatics and archaeology and Documentation.

Additional activities: Special exhibitions, publications, lectures, symposiums, and a preservation laboratory.

The Old Parliament Building - 13, Stadiou Street, 10561, Athens Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3237617, 210 3237315, Fax: (+30) 210 3213786

E-mail: info@nhm.gr, www.nhm.gr

The National Historical Museum has a large collection of documentation and relics referring to the history of Modern Greece since the Fall of Constantinople in the 15th century.

The building is special, the idea is great and its location is easy, just getting in is hard.

Collections and contents: An assortment of historical and cultural items.

Additional activities: Special exhibitions, publications, historical and photographic archives, museum library and a preservation laboratory.

11742, Athens, Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3212313

The museum is home to a wide selection of artefacts dating back to Early Greek civilization up to the 19th century. It is located on the northern side of the Acropolis.

Collections and contents: Vases, Figurines, Weapons, Jewellery, Busts, Coins, Statuettes, Sculpture, Inscriptions, Masks, Bronze Crosses, Lead Settings, Wood Carvings, Icons, Fabrics and Objet d'art.

13, Leveidou Street, 14562, Kifisia, Athens, Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 8015870, 210 8086405, 210 8087345, Fax: (+30) 210 8080674

The museum's aim is to promote natural sciences and to educate the public on the protection of the environment and of wildlife.

Full of school children all year round, from many countries, a great collection.

Collections and contents: Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Insects, Rocks, Minerals, Shells, Fossils and Plants.

Additional activities: Special exhibitions, lectures, educational programmes, seminars, publications and laboratories.

Akti Themistokleous Street, 18537, Freattyda, Piraeus, Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 4516822, 210 4516264, Fax: (+30) 210 4516822

The Nautical Museum possesses a marvellous collection of relics and works of art that date back to prehistoric times up to modern times.

Collections and contents: Paintings, Models, Nautical Instruments, Flags, Guns, Maps and Medals.

Additional activities: Museum library, audio and visual archives, map archives, special exhibitions, lecture, functions.

35, Charilaou Trikoupi Street, 18536, Piraeus Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 4521598, 210 4518388

The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus contains ancient objects from excavations carried out in the Piraeus area.

Collections and contents: Sculptures, Pottery, Relief’s, Statues and Gravestones

The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus

Eleusis, Attica Greece

Tel: (+30) 210 3463552

The Archaeological Museum of Eleusis houses ancient Greek and Roman findings from excavations in the Eleusis area and from the Temples that stood in the Eleusis archaeological site.

A nice trip out of Athens and well worth the effort, this place shows how much the Romans copied the Greeks but also how they always went bigger.

Collections and contents: Amphorae, Statues, Relief’s, Inscriptions and Marbles.

19003, Markopoulo, Mesogeia, Attica Greece

Tel: (+30) 22990 27020

The Archaeological Museum of Vravrona has a collection that includes ancient artefacts from excavations in the surrounding areas and from the Temple of Artemis.

This is a place to go for the Archaeological experience, you almost want to get down with a brush and dustpan to start working the site yourself.

Collections and contents: Sculptures, Statues, Reliefs, Pottery and an assortment of ancient objects.

114, Plataion Street, 19007, Vranas, Marathon, Attica Greece

The Archaeological Museum of Marathon is home to a wonderful collection of ancient Greek and Neolithic relics.

The History of Marathon is played out all the time, the use of the city hides the fact that there are lots of ruins everywhere as well as at the site.

Collections and contents: Pottery, Statues, Relief’s, Inscriptions and finds from the Battle of Marathon.